A development in rural Northwest Jacksonville offered to bring up to 3,000 housing units, commercial opportunities and recreation to the area. Jacksonville City Council approved the land use unanimously — but environmental advocates remain concerned about the effect on the area’s wetlands.

The 1,480-acre undeveloped parcel, situated between Acree, Plummer and Old Kings roads, is bordered on three of four sides by conservation areas and a mitigation bank.

Local developer Corner Lot owns the property and is required to preserve wetlands per the agreement with the city, but activists said damage to the uplands, effects of nearby prescribed burns and quality of life changes to incoming residents should have more heavily influenced the city’s decision.

Read the rest of this story at the Florida Times-Union, a Jacksonville Today news partner.